We’re on the cusp of a moment when living in rural areas and small towns can mean locally-based opportunity and close knit communities--not a youth and skill drain to the cities and suburbs. It’s why my husband, son, and I choose to live here in hard-working Marshall, and it’s why I’m running to be your delegate for Virginia’s 18th House District.

Growing up in Fairfax County, my brother and I, spent every free hour at the one working farm in the county, Frying Pan Farm Park. With a deep interest in agriculture and love of a good challenge I became the 4-Her to beat in poultry, livestock, and meat judging competitions for most of the late 90’s. I proudly represented Virginia and won the National Livestock Skillathon in 2000.

Then 9/11 happened and my focus turned to international relations and national security issues, which I studied at the University of Virginia. That’s also where I met Tihomir, my husband of over ten years. After graduation we got married and lived in DC while we both studied law. While I worked towards my law degree from the Catholic University of America in the evenings, by day, I led a team contracted to analyze Russian cyber capabilities at the Defense Intelligence Agency.

In 2012, I joined one of the private sector’s first cyber intelligence teams at Mandiant (later FireEye), ultimately leading a 90-person intelligence team located on three continents. Our work included exposing Russian military hackers and the Chinese military’s theft of American trade secrets. In 2017, I gave a TED Talk, joined the Atlantic Council as a Senior Fellow, and started a consulting practice, Galante Strategies, whose work has included assisting the Ukrainian government in defending against aggressive Russian cyber operations.

I’m passionate about giving back to my community and serve on the board of the Northern VA 4-H Center in Front Royal, advise a Charlottesville-based cybersecurity company, and lead a livestock cloverbud 4-H club in Fauquier.

I’ve been unwinding hard security and policy problems for years--and it all starts with listening to the ground truth, building dedicated teams, and tirelessly getting the job done. That’s why I’m spending real time, face to face, door to door, with Virginians of all stripes--Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Greens, and non-voters.

I believe that our mission to build a dynamic American future starts here in Fauquier, Warren, Culpeper, and Rappahannock counties. We’re smart and creative, we’re compassionate, we’re accountable, we’re entrepreneurial, and our representation in Richmond should be too.

Join me in building our rural future.